Southeast Archeological Center

Shiloh: 1933-1934 Frank H. H. Roberts CWA Excavations

Shiloh Mounds Archeological Project

While there was no concentrated effort to excavate Shiloh
Mound A during the Depression-era archeological investigations up and down
the Tennessee River Valley, a team of scientists working under the banner of
the Civilian Works Administration (CWA) conducted archeological
investigations in some of the smaller mounds and the main plaza at Shiloh
Mounds National Historic Landmark in 1933-1934. Here are some of the
remaining still photos from that excavation. Thanks to Paul Dee Welch
for his help with identifications.

The Tennessee River from atop Mound A in 1934,
before reservoir construction. The lowlands to
the east are farmed, as today.

Barge traffic on the Tennessee in 1934. Modern
barge trains are ten times the size.

Frank Roberts (?), or at least members of his
crew, mapping atop what we would like to believe is Mound A, since the
plane table tripod is shown on the mound in another view. The actual
location shown here may be on another part of the site, however, since the
slope appears too gentle..

Crew members working with shovels.

The 1933/34 crew was all male, and dressed
somewhat differently than the 1999-2003 crew.

Trench 1 west of Mound D excavated in 1934,
showing stepping like that used in 2001-2003..

Views of fire hearths, note the similarity to
Mound A fire features such as
Feature 75.

Access to sensitive excavation areas was
controlled during both the 1933-1934 and the 2001-2003 projects.

The Shiloh Hotel where Roberts and Chambers
stayed during the beginning of the 1933 field season at Shiloh Mounds,
finding the quarters to be "poor accommodations." Roberts and Chambers soon
moved their base of operations to a better hotel. This
historic structure had unfortunately fallen into severe disrepair and was
razed during the 2003 field season.

Deep and narrow excavation trenches such as this,
with no escape, are not permitted during the 2001-2003 excavations for reasons of safety,
as such all SEAC excavation trenches are 'open' trenches where only one
profile wall is exposed leaving an escape route for excavators should the
unthinkable occur.

Features in one of the 1933/1934 excavation
trenches.

Excavations into the apron south of Mound A. The
1999 and 2001 excavations located some of these trenches.